New chapter in bilateral ties
Second Link a bridge to carry Malaysia and Singapore into the future
IT was a new chapter in the ties between Malaysia and Singapore when the Second Link opened in April 1998.
The bridge was built to ease the traffic snarl at the Malaysia-singapore Causeway, which began in the 1920s and had been the only land crossing between the two countries then.
With a Rm1.3bil price tag, the Second Link connects Tanjung Kupang in Gelang Patah, Johor, to Tuas in Singapore.
It is about 1.7km on the Malaysian side. On Singapore’s side, it is 0.3km in length.
The dual three-lane link across the Straits of Johor was jointly opened by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Singapore counterpart Goh Chok Tong.
On the official opening day on April 18, 1998, Dr Mahathir said the link would play a pivotal role in the economic and infrastructure development of both countries.
“This second crossing will literally act as the bridge to carry our two countries into the 21st century.
“It can also be seen as a triumph for Asean as it demonstrates the success of two of its members in working towards regional cooperation,” he said.
On his part, Goh said the bridge was not just another great engineering feat.
According to him, it marked a new phase in Malaysia-singapore relations.
“This is a bridge to the future, it is for future needs,” he said.
The Second Link comprises three main components – the bridge, two expressways and the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs and Immigration Complex.
Prior to its opening, then works minister Tun S. Samy Vellu said the bridge had the capacity to handle some 70,000 vehicles and 238,000 people on a daily basis.
It was also estimated that it could ease 30% of the congestion at the Causeway.
Unofficial statistics showed that some 300,000 commuters travelled between Johor and Singapore through the Causeway and Second Link on a daily basis before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
On March 18 last year, for the first time in its history, both the Second Link and the Causeway were shut down as countries around the world closed their borders to stop the contagion.
Thousands of travellers were seen rushing to either side of the Causeway and the Second Link to beat the midnight deadline for the closing of the border.
Since then, both countries have made arrangements to facilitate certain travel between both sides.
But prior to the pandemic, countless people would use the Second Link on a regular basis as the bridge was a great convenience.
Technician K. Susheendran, 34, said he had been using the link for over seven years to travel back and forth between his house in Skudai and his workplace in Singapore.
“I will normally use the Second Link when travelling in the morning as the traffic and the clearance is faster compared to the Causeway.
“However, if I am travelling back at night, I will check the traffic condition at both bridges before deciding on which road to take. It is definitely good to have options,” he said.
Another Malaysian working in Singapore, Noor Azizan Junaidi, 30, said that he preferred using the Second Link despite living in Pasir Gudang, which is nearer to the Causeway.
“I prefer using the Second Link as the traffic jam there is usually not as bad as the Causeway.
“However, since my house is closer to the Causeway, I normally will have to travel through the Causeway to get to Singapore (pre-pandemic).
“I would use the Second Link but probably only about twice a week when the traffic condition in the Causeway is really bad,” he said, adding that he had been travelling between Malaysia and Singapore on his motorcycle for over three years.
Noor Azizan, who works as a tool installation coordinator, said the Second Link had helped to reduce the congestion in the Causeway.
“It is particularly helpful for people living around Bukit Indah and Gelang Patah areas as they do not have to travel far to enter Singapore,” he added.
He also liked the design and accessibility of the Second Link, saying that it was better than the Causeway.